New local courthouse security measures to begin Monday

La Plata County has issued a final reminder that new courthouse security measures will go into effect Monday.

From then on, access to the entire courthouse, 1060 East Second Ave., will be restricted to the southwest entrance near the clocktower. All visitors must pass through a metal detector and all bags, purses and items from their pockets will be screened through an X-ray machine.

Guns, knives, mace and other dangerous items are not permitted inside the building and will not be held by courthouse staff members. Visitors with a concealed weapons permit may not bring a gun into the courthouse.

Other courthouses in the state are implementing similar security measures, though Archuleta and Montezuma counties continue to have metal detectors only at the entrance to county courtrooms, not the entire courthouse.

Joanne Spina, assistant county manager, said the screenings are a best-practice issue from a security standpoint.

The metal detector and screening process is the same that has been used at the courtroom entrance since the 1980s.